Business letters: January 23

SME communities must be heard, why small businesses are vulnerable, how to control the banks and why privatisation is risky

SMEs’ stories must be heard . . .

We agree with Juan Lobato’s letter last week regarding David Cameron’s meeting
with the heads of big firms to discuss the problem of unemployment. The
prime minister should also meet SME communities around Britain to understand
and lend support.

We are a husband and wife team with a small retail business. We started in
1977 with one employee and now have 50, despite stiff competion from the big
supermarkets. We have already taken on two new staff this year and if our
future plan goes ahead we will be employing a few more by the year end. SK and JS Mistry, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

... And bosses given a fairer hearing

I am the owner of an SME and I have been betrayed by two employees — one of
whom used the no win, no fee legal system to bring a false injury claim. The
employee was